Internal migration pull Flashcards
Job opportunities
There were a variety of flourishing industrial sectors in the cities, such as shipyards in Glasgow, resulting in many more available jobs than in rural areas. This convinced Scots to migrate due to the appeal of employment opportunities.
Higher wages
On average, rural jobs tended to pay less than jobs in cities, for example, farm hands were often paid in kind, while shipyards offered actual wages. This convinced Scots to migrate as the promise of more pay was very attractive.
Letters
Family members often wrote letters encouraging their relatives to move, offering assistance in finding homes or jobs. This encouraged Scots to move as it informed them about opportunities in other parts of the country and promised to simplify the migration process.
Healthcare
In the Highlands healthcare access was poor, and people often lived miles from the nearest doctor or hospital, and life in the city could provide better access to things like charitable hospitals like the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. This encouraged Highlanders to migrate to have access to some form of healthcare.
Eduction
Primary education was made compulsory in 1872 but was difficult to access in rural areas, however, the increasing populations of Scottish towns and cities meant that there were more schools. This convinced Scots to migrate as many Scots valued the idea of their children getting an education.
Train lines
In 1865 there were 2,200 miles of railways in Scotland, which provided much easier access to the cities from rural areas. This convinced Scots to migrate as the faster travel times opened up the possibility for temporary migration, which was particularly helpful for farmhands who had half-year contracts.
Entertainment
Cities offered a plethora of entertainment options, such as music halls, sports, and eventually, cinemas. This convinced Scots to move as life in the countryside could be quite boring, but cities offered socialisation and entertainment.
New housing
In 1866, 88 acres of Glasgow slum housing were knocked down and replaced with new and improved houses and streets. This convinced Scots to migrate as it was much higher quality housing than was generally available in rural areas.
